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Neoadjuvant SCRT Plus Camrelizumab Shows Promising 3-Year Survival in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Oncology
  • A phase 2 trial demonstrated that neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy followed by camrelizumab and CAPOX chemotherapy achieved an 80.2% three-year disease-free survival rate in locally advanced rectal cancer patients.
  • The treatment regimen showed particular promise in microsatellite-stable patients, who comprised 93.3% of the study population and typically have limited immunotherapy options.
  • Patients achieving pathological complete response had superior outcomes, with 100% three-year disease-free survival compared to 63.5% in non-responders.
  • The combination therapy maintained a favorable safety profile with no grade 5 adverse events or emergent toxicities observed during long-term follow-up.

Preoperative Short Course Radiotherapy With Chemotherapy and Camerelizumab in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

NCT04231552Unknown StatusPhase 1
Wuhan Union Hospital, China
Posted 11/10/2019

Short-course Radiotherapy Followed by Consolidation Chemotherapy. 2021-001206-29

NCT05253846Active, Not RecruitingPhase 2
Gruppo Oncologico del Nord-Ovest
Posted 1/25/2022

Short-Course Radiotherapy Followed by Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Camrelizumab in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (UNION)

NCT04928807Active, Not RecruitingPhase 3
Wuhan Union Hospital, China
Posted 7/20/2021

Queen Mary Researchers Develop Novel Model for Recurrent Glioblastoma Treatment Using Repurposed Antiparasitic Drug

Oncology
  • Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have developed an innovative model that accurately replicates how glioblastoma tumours recur and evolve after treatment, potentially enabling personalized medicine approaches for the 3,200 UK patients diagnosed annually.
  • The study identified ciliated cells that become more prevalent in recurrent glioblastoma and are protected by hair-like structures, making them more resistant to conventional treatments.
  • Scientists discovered that Mebendazole, an over-the-counter threadworm medication, can target these resistant ciliated cells and make them more sensitive to chemotherapy.
  • This breakthrough, published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, offers new hope for patients with recurrent glioblastoma who previously had limited treatment options after first-line therapy failure.

AI-Powered Pathology: Transforming Cancer Diagnostics and Precision Oncology

AIOncology
  • AI technology is poised to revolutionize cancer diagnostics by improving accuracy, efficiency, and workflow, while handling tedious tasks that pathologists find challenging or time-consuming.
  • Experts emphasize that AI will not replace pathologists but rather serve as a powerful tool that can provide insights beyond human capability, potentially predicting treatment responses better than current methods.
  • The integration of AI in pathology faces challenges including the need for digitized slides, regulatory hurdles, and ethical considerations, though it promises to standardize diagnoses and reduce disparities in cancer care globally.

Vivo Capital Secures $740 Million for Third Cycle of Healthcare Investment Fund

Drug ApprovalRare DiseaseOncology
• Vivo Capital has closed the third cycle of its Opportunity Fund with over $740 million in commitments, focusing on preclinical and clinical-stage life sciences companies developing novel therapies.
• The fund has previously backed companies that achieved significant milestones, including FDA approvals for treatments targeting COPD, myelodysplastic syndrome, narcolepsy, and Prader-Willi Syndrome.
• Several Vivo-backed companies have been acquired by pharmaceutical giants in billion-dollar deals, including RayzeBio (Bristol-Myers Squibb, $4.1B), Chinook Therapeutics (Novartis, $3.2B), and Sierra Oncology (GSK, $1.9B).

Dawn Health Secures €11.5 Million to Expand Pharma-Focused Digital Health Platform

AIReal World EvidenceOncologyRare Disease
  • Copenhagen-based Dawn Health has raised €11.5 million from existing investors to scale its regulatory-grade digital health platform designed specifically for pharmaceutical companies.
  • The platform, already utilized by industry leaders like Merck and Novartis, supports patients with conditions including oncology, multiple sclerosis, and rare pediatric diseases through AI-driven symptom tracking and clinical integration.
  • This funding will accelerate Dawn Health's SaaS delivery model, product development, and international expansion as the company aims to become the global leader in pharmaceutical digital health solutions.

Panitumumab Plus FOLFOX Significantly Improves Survival in RAS/BRAF Wild-Type Locally Advanced Colon Cancer

Monoclonal AntibodyTargeted TherapyOncology
  • Exploratory findings from the FOxTROT trial reveal that adding panitumumab to neoadjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy significantly reduced recurrence and improved survival in patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type locally advanced colon cancer.
  • The combination therapy demonstrated impressive results with a 49% reduction in disease-free survival risk (HR, 0.51), 77% reduction in colon cancer death risk (HR, 0.23), and 64% improvement in overall survival (HR, 0.36) compared to FOLFOX alone.
  • These results provide the first evidence that anti-EGFR therapy can improve long-term cancer control in locally advanced colon cancer, validating molecular selection for targeted therapy in non-metastatic disease.

UCLA Study: Advanced MRI and Focal Therapy Revolutionize Prostate Cancer Surveillance

Oncology
  • A groundbreaking UCLA study demonstrates that combining advanced MRI imaging with targeted focal therapy allows men with low to intermediate-risk prostate cancer to safely remain on active surveillance longer.
  • The research found that 84% of men receiving focal therapy avoided radical treatments like surgery or radiation, compared to only 46% in the control group, significantly reducing overtreatment risks.
  • MRI technology proved remarkably accurate, correctly predicting disease stability in 90-95% of low-risk cases and 70% of intermediate-risk cases, while reducing the need for invasive repeat biopsies.

Aptevo Advances APVO711: Novel Bispecific Antibody Combining PD-L1 Checkpoint Inhibition with CD40 Immune Activation

Oncology
  • Aptevo Therapeutics has announced progress on APVO711, a dual-mechanism bispecific antibody that simultaneously blocks PD-L1 and activates CD40, potentially overcoming resistance to standard checkpoint inhibitors.
  • Preclinical studies demonstrate APVO711's ability to both block immune suppression and enhance T-cell priming, showing promise for treating a wide range of solid tumors resistant to current immunotherapies.
  • The development of APVO711 showcases Aptevo's ADAPTIR platform capabilities while complementing their clinical-stage pipeline, which includes mipletamig for AML and ALG.APV-527 for solid tumors.

Novel Antibody PLT012 Targets Fat Metabolism to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance in Cancer

Monoclonal AntibodyOncology
  • Ludwig Cancer Research scientists developed PLT012, a humanized antibody that blocks the CD36 fat transporter to restore immune function in tumors that exploit fat metabolism for immune evasion.
  • Preclinical studies in hepatocellular carcinoma and colon cancer liver metastases demonstrated PLT012's effectiveness both as monotherapy and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors.
  • The FDA granted PLT012 orphan drug status, and the therapy showed promise in human tumor samples while demonstrating favorable safety profiles in animal models.
  • This metabolic immunotherapy approach could address a broad range of cancers with lipid-rich microenvironments that resist conventional checkpoint blockade therapies.

Jaguar Health Advances Canalevia-CA1 Field Study for Canine Cancer Treatment as Company Pursues Full FDA Approval

Drug ApprovalOncology
  • Jaguar Health has established the first study site for its field study of Canalevia-CA1, the FDA conditionally approved prescription drug for treating chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in dogs.
  • The company is pursuing two parallel goals: obtaining full FDA approval for CID treatment and expanding crofelemer's indication to treat general, non-infectious diarrhea in dogs.
  • Approximately 1 in 4 dogs develop cancer during their lifetime, with roughly 6 million new cancer diagnoses made in dogs annually in the U.S.
  • Jaguar is actively seeking partnerships to fund development and commercialization of crofelemer for general canine diarrhea treatment, representing a significant unmet medical need.

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